The secretary of Trearddur Bay inshore life-boat station is to receive a Royal Humane Society testimonial written on parchment, and a resuscitation certificate for his part in the rescue on the morning of May 24.

The awards have been made on the recommendation of the Western Division Inspector of Lifeboats.

Christopher Tyler, Humane Society secretary, said: "But for the swift action of Mr Abbott the man he rescued would almost certainly be dead. He richly deserves this award."

The incident happened after a man in his 50s, who has not been identified, got into trouble as he attempted to launch his dinghy from the slipway at Trearddur Bay.

The Humane Society citation says the man lost control of the dinghy and it drifted out into the bay. He then swam after it and reached it about 100 metres out but did not have the strength to climb on board.

He then turned to swim back to shore but could not make it and by the time he was spotted by Mr Abbott he was lying face down about 50 metres out.

Mr Abbott then went into the water, swam out to him, and towed him back to the shore. By this time the man had stopped breathing but he managed to revive him by giving him the kiss-oflife. He was later taken to hospital where he made a full recovery.

Mr Abbott said yesterday: 'Because of the exertion of trying to get into his boat he had got tired and cold and decided to swim back.

'He must have been in the water face down for three or four minutes. Once I flipped him over and got him back to the shore, I could hardly get him out of the water.

'He was up to his waist in water when I started resuscitation. There were no vital signs and I was lucky to get him going. I had to get his false teeth out and he was sick all over me!'

Doctors at Ysbyty Gwynedd kept the man in for several days to watch for 'secondary drowning' because he had swallowed so much water. Mr Tyler at the RHS said: ' This man was extremely lucky that there was someone as capable as Mr Abbott on hand.'

No date has yet been fixed for the presentation of the awards but it is expected to take place in the near future.

The Royal Humane Society, whose president is Princess Alexandra, was originally formed by a group of London doctors in 1774.

It is the leading UK organisation responsible for honouring life-savers and those who have been involved in heroic rescue incidents.